Trump's school shooting commission unveiled hours after he scoffed at a commission on drug crimes

Trump dismisses drug crimes commission
(Image credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

On Sunday, the White House rolled out its response to last month's mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, with several proposals to protect and "harden" schools but few changes to gun laws. The proposals do not include raising the age to purchase military-style rifles to 21 from 18, for example, despite President Trump prominently bucking the NRA to endorse the idea. Age requirements will be examined by the new Federal Commission on School Safety the White House announced Sunday, headed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

"I have actually asked to head up a task force that will really look at what states are doing," DeVos said Sunday on 60 Minutes. "See, there are a lot of states that are addressing these issues in very cohesive and coherent ways." On Saturday night, Trump did not seem so keen on commissions to solve big problems like school safety.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.